Essential Guide

Demystifying desktop virtualization technology

Series: Let's get this straight

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Introduction

When it comes to virtual desktop infrastructure, administrators have a lot of choices. You may
have wondered about the differences between desktop virtualization technology and product options,
remote display protocols or all the licenses out there. In this series, we tackle some of the
biggest head-scratchers facing VDI admins to help you get things straight.

Check back each month for the latest installment of the "Let's get this straight" series below.
If you encounter something in your desktop virtualization travels that you want cleared up, write
to us at editor@searchvirtualdesktop.com.

1Automation -

What can you automate in VDI?

One of the best benefits of desktop virtualization technology is the ability to simplify desktop management. To take that a step further, there are plenty of opportunities to automate common tasks in a virtual desktop environment, such as provisioning desktops, performing updates and gathering monitoring information about virtual machines.

Get to know PowerShell and other automation tools that can help you sit back and relax while scripts do all the work -- or at least some of it. Continue Reading

2Windows as a Service-

What's Windows as a Service?

Windows as a Service is the latest "as a Service" technology, describing just about any type of cloud-hosted desktop setup. Still, it's different from Desktop as a Service. Plus, both of these desktop delivery methods differ from in-house virtual desktop infrastructure.

Learn the differences between Windows as a Service, Desktop as a Service and in-house VDI -- all ways to deliver virtual desktops to your end users. One is a term from Citrix Systems. Continue Reading

3Offline VDI-

Considering offline access to virtual desktops

Connected VDI means the user connects to a virtual desktop that's on the corporate network, and disconnected VDI isn't connected to the network. With offline VDI, you can access a virtual desktop from just about anywhere -- even without an Internet connection. The tricky part is ensuring a quality user experience in that scenario.

Learn the pros and cons of disconnected VDI to see if your users need offline access. If you're always running desktops offline on a client device, you might not need to be doing VDI in the first place. Continue Reading

4VDI platforms-

How Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View compare

VDI software from Citrix Systems and VMware have some different features and options that you should get to know. Each platform works with a different remote display protocol, supports different hypervisors, and works with a variety of clients.

Get an overview of the basic differences between Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View, two of the most popular platforms for virtual desktop infrastructure deployments. Continue Reading

5Desktop types-

Understanding nonpersistent and persistent VDI

When you deploy VDI, you can choose either persistent or nonpersistent virtual desktops. Persistent desktops allow users to customize their desktop because the data is saved each time the user logs off, and they connect to the same disk image when they log back in. Nonpersistent desktops are shared, making them easier to manage, update and secure; plus, they require less storage.

Choosing your type of VDI environment comes down to what the users need and how you want to manage their desktops. Continue Reading

6VDI hardware-

Should you use thin or zero clients?

There is a variety of endpoints you can use to support desktop virtualization technology. Thin clients are one way to reduce hardware -- and you can even repurpose old PCs as thin client hardware. Also consider zero clients, an even slimmer endpoint, but make sure what you're getting from the vendor is actually a no-software client.

If you decide that thin or zero clients are right for your VDI environment, check out the differences in cost and manageability. Continue Reading

7Protocols-

Getting to know remote display protocols

Remote display protocols are responsible for transmitting data from the virtual desktop in the data center to the display that a user sees on his screen. The major vendors' protocols, VMware PCoIP, Microsoft RemoteFX/RDP and Citrix HDX differ in terms of graphics capabilities, underlying protocols and how they work to deliver virtual and remote desktops over the network.

These remote display protocols aren't the only ones out there, but they're commonly used across virtual desktop deployments. Each one has slightly different features and capabilities when it comes to delivering desktops through desktop virtualization technology. Continue Reading

8App virtualization-

Comparing application virtualization options

There are a number of tools out there for application virtualization and streaming, including the major vendors' options: Citrix XenApp, VMware ThinApp and Microsoft App-V. Citrix won't support its App Streaming feature in Windows Server 2012, so the company is turning customers to App-V. Also get to know ThinApp Factory and what's new in the latest versions of these tools.

Learn the ins and outs of these three application virtualization tools. Continue Reading

9Desktop as a Service-

How cloud-hosted desktops differ from VDI

Although cloud-hosted desktops rely on the same infrastructure elements as VDI, with Desktop as a Service (DaaS) you are outsourcing virtual desktops to a provider. Determine which path is right for your organization, and make sure you take the right steps to choose a DaaS provider.

Learn how the benefits of in-house VDI -- greater control, for instance -- compare to the benefits of DaaS. Continue Reading

10VDI licensing-

Clearing up Microsoft virtual desktop licensing

Licensing is one of the most confusing aspects of VDI. Microsoft doesn't make it easy for administrators to implement virtual desktops with the proper licensing, so you need to learn the differences between the vendor's major licenses. Its newest license for BYOD adds to the complexity.

Learn the differences between Software Assurance, Virtual Desktop Access and the Companion Device License so you can deploy virtual desktops in compliance with Microsoft's oh-so-confusing policies. Continue Reading

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